The Black Citadel
SO, YOU SEEK THE BLACK CITADEL? I AM GRUK. DON'T EXPECT A WARM WELCOME.
You got rocks in your head, softskin? Comin' here? This is the Black Citadel, heart of the Obsidian Wastes, carved from rage and bad rock. Used to be Gorgash's pit of fury, now it's the Serpent Queen's nest. Name's Gruk. Seen enough seasons in this cursed place to know better than to ask stupid questions. It ain't pretty, it ain't safe, and the only welcome you'll find is the edge of a blade if you step wrong. Keep your head down, trust no one, and maybe you'll leave in fewer pieces than you arrived. Don't say Gruk didn't warn ya.
OUR HISTORY, WRITTEN IN ASH AND BLOOD
History here ain't sung by bards; it's carved in scars and screams. This fortress was raised by the Warlord Gorgash, fueled by the dark power of the Obsidian Heart. His Shadow Enclave ruled these wastes through fear, their ambition reaching for Hammerdeep until they were broken. But defeat breeds change. The Alchemist, Saphira, saw his weakness. There was a... shift in management. She took the Heart, took his throne, took his life, and forged his broken legions into something new, something colder: the Shadow Ascendancy. Now, this Citadel answers to her will, a place of sharp steel and sharper minds, brooding under the storm she commands
NOTABLE RESIDENTS
WATCH YOUR STEP. THE POWERS THAT WALK THESE HALLS DON'T SUFFER FOOLS.
Saphira: The Shadow Ascendant herself. Rules from the shadows, her mind like a razor, her ambition boundless. Don't meet her eyes unless you have to
Malakor: Saphira's top Commander. Scarred veteran, values discipline and efficiency. Utterly loyal to her. Cross him, and you won't get a second chance
Karg: Commander of the Enforcers. Brutish, pragmatic, switched loyalty from Gorgash. Values strength, follows the winner.
Zarog: Beastmaster Commander. Cunning, reptilian, another turncoat from Gorgash's inner circle. Don't trust his smile.
Archivist Zeth: Saphira's lore master. Pale, obsessive, driven by forbidden knowledge. Probably wouldn't notice if you caught fire right next to him.
Kaelith & Vorlag: Elite Dark Wizards. Saphira's favored agents. Silent, deadly, best avoided entirely.
Former Residents (Don't Ask): Gorgash (Warlord, deceased) , Thorgash (General, deceased?) , Drakus (Necromancer, deceased). Best not to mention them.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO (ADVICE: DON'T)
The Great Hall: Where Gorgash used to rant. Now Saphira holds court when she bothers. Features a charming throne made of screaming figures. Best viewed from a distance. A long distance. Preferably from another continent.
Saphira's Laboratories: Off-limits. Seriously. The smells alone could peel the skin off a troll. Go poking around, and you'll end up as Zeth's next experiment.
The Obsidian Wastes: Our scenic backyard. Jagged black rock, rivers of fire, choking ash, and charming local wildlife like Cinder Vargs and worse. Lovely place for a stroll if you fancy being incinerated or eaten. Stay inside. Stay quiet. Stay alive. Maybe.
YOU WANT SIGHTS? LOOK AT THE GROUND SO YOU DON'T TRIP INTO A LAVA CHASM. THIS AIN'T LUMINARA. BUT IF YOU MUST KNOW
